"Shiroyone Senmaida", located on the northern side of the Noto Peninsula on a steep slope facing the Sea of Japan, features over 1,000 small rice terraces overlapping each other forming a picturesque landscape. "Shiroyone Senmaida" has been named one of top 100 terraced rice fields of Japan and is a nationally designated cultural asset. It is also a representative scenic spot of Noto Peninsula.
In 2011, "Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi", including the "Shiroyone Senmaida", was recognized by the United Nations as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). "Satoyama" refers to socio-ecological system, such as villages and farmlands, and "Satoumi" refers to coastal area which has a strong connection with livelihoods of the people. GIAHS is a system that recognizes highly unique agriculture, forestry, and fishery industries, regions, and system that have been passed down through generations. The area of each rice terrace in "Shiroyone Senmaida" is as small as 18㎡, and the difference in elevation is about 50m, making it impossible to use large agricultural machinery. The ancestral method of rice cultivation in harsh terrain and natural environment of Noto has been handed down since ancient times.
No matter which season of the year you visit, the scenery will be bound to resonate with you. The blue sky reflected in the shimmering, water-filled rice terraces in spring, the vivid green of the rice plants growing strong in summer, and the golden ears of rice swaying in the wind in autumn are a true sight to behold. “Aze no Kirameki” [Twinkle of the Rice Paddies] is an annual event held from fall through winter, during which more than 1,000 rice terraces are illuminated with 25,000 LED lights. For four hours after sunset, the lights change colors every 15 minutes from green to pink, gold and blue. The magical sight will take your breath away.
■From Kanazawa Station: Take the HOKURIKU RAIL ROAD.CO.,LTD Wajima Express Line to Wajima Station. Transfer to Machino Line at boarding spot 3. Disembark at Shiroyone Senmaida Bus Stop.
Catch a spectacular view of the scenic Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces during the light-up event, rice planting and rice harvesting from the Roadside Station Senmaida Pocket Park. Pocket Park has a menu with a variety of local foods, from light meals, such as rice balls freshly made from rice harvested in the terraced rice terraces, udon noodles with abalone broth and soba noodles. Wajima famous "Egara Manju" and soft-serve ice cream is also a very popular menu.
*Open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays
At Shiroyone Senmaida, rice planting begins in early May. Because the terraced rice fields are too narrow and using agricultural machinery is impossible due to the difference in elevation, the work is done by farmers and volunteers by hand. The grass needs to be trimmed many times due to the use of traditional farming methods using little or no pesticides. In 2014, the traditional Japanese farming method of directly sowing rice seeds was revived. The sight of the terraced rice fields reflecting the blue sky like a mirror on the surface of the water is truly magnificent.
The bedazzling "Aze no Kirameki" [Twinkle of the Rice Paddies] illumination event is held annually from mid-October to mid-March with 25,000 solar-powered LED lights illuminating the Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terraces for four hours after the sunset. Resembling each season with four colors the lights change from pink to green, gold and blue every 15 minutes, becoming a magical and unforgettable sight.
The illumination times of "Aze no Kirameki" [Twinkle of the Rice Paddies] varies depending on the time of the year, weather, etc. However, the lights are always left on for approximately four hours after sunset for the event.
Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terrace is located close to the tip of the Noto Peninsula, so, the closest place to stay will be Wajima Onsen Resort, at about 15 minutes by car. Wajima Onsen Resort has a panoramic view of the Sea of Japan, and the onsen is famous for beautifying skin; namely silky-smoothness and suppleness.
80 Yo-Bu, Wakura-Machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa
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Nagoya Travel Guide